Langston.
Langston
met him by a bitter river
of shadows
black with the tears
of Scottsboro
and the sins of Dixie
red with the blood
of freedom
he sang a chorus
of revolution
in verse of jazz and blues
fifths and thirds
weary words of dream delusions
from the dark side
of Lenox Avenue
he swayed to a boogie beat
syncopated Billie rhythms
backlash blues
performed for fans
of Uncles Tom and Sam
at the Waldorf-Astoria
social league
met him in a long forgotten dream
of Harlem nights
madams and mules
wisdom and war
panthers and doves
death
and deferral
Grace Xanthos recnetly completed her M. A. in English Literature English literature, literature written in English since c.1450 by the inhabitants of the British Isles; it was during the 15th cent. that the English language acquired much of its modern form. For the literature of previous linguistic periods, see the articles on Anglo-Saxon literature and Middle English literature (see also Anglo-Norman literature). at
California Polytechnic University, Pomona.
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